Robinson Named Captain of 2012-13 Men's Squash Team

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Junior Hywel Robinson (Bridgend, Wales) has been named captain of the 2012-13 Yale men's squash team. Robinson was chosen by his teammates in a vote last week, and will take over a team that was the nation's No. 1 squad at points in the 2011-12 season

"Being elected the captain is a huge honor." Robinson said. "Especially since I'm following in the footsteps of the three great captains I've had the chance to play under. If we can emulate anywhere near the culture and climate that we have had in previous years, I know we will have a successful year."

"All of us at Yale Squash are very excited about the selection by the team of Hywel Robinson as the captain of Yale Squash for the 2012-13 season," Head Coach Dave Talbott said. "Hywel is one of the top players in college wquash as well as one of the leaders of the Yale Squash program. Part of an exceptional senior class of Kenneth Chan, Richard Dodd, and Sam Haig, Hywel is one of the hardest workers and most focused players in the recent history of Yale Squash."

Robinson has been a rock at the top of the lineup for the Bulldogs since his arrival in New Haven. As a freshman, he posted a 15-3 record and reached the semifinals of the Division A CSA Individual Championship consolation draw. That success earned him first team All-American and first-team All Ivy honors.

As a sophomore, Robinson played at the No. 1 spot and garnered second team All-American honors for his 5-9 record. He was also an All-Ivy selection yet again, all while battling a leg injury that forced the former Welsh junior squash No. 1 to off-season surgery.

Robinson battled to an 8-5 record this year, again at the top of the Bulldog ladder playing at the No. 1 or No. 2 spot all season. He also welcomed his brother, Huw, to New Haven and the Yale corps. Huw joined his brother, an economics major, in Trumbull College.

Robinson will take the helm of a team looking to improve on this season's sixth-place finish at the CSA Team Championships after losing four crucial seniors – captain Ryan Dowd and classmates John Roberts, Samuel Clayman and Robert Berner – to graduation. But both the captain-elect and his coach believe the Bulldogs will be right back in contention when March rolls around next year, particularly if they maintain the attitude the program has had in recent years.

"We are losing four great players to graduation, and they are going to be greatly missed. However, the three incoming freshmen are exciting players who will do big things for us," Robinson said. "Our goals for next year are the same as they have been every year -- be competitive and win it all."

Coach Talbott believes Robinson and his classmates are more than suited to lead the Bulldogs in that direction.

"Hywel is the right one to lead the Yale men back to the top after winning the Ivy League the two previous years before this season's second-place finish. With the support of his three fellow seniors, Hywel will be an extremely effective captain through his work ethic, leadership skills, and respect that he has from everyone on the team."